THE ‘great British summer’ again robbed a big crowd of a grandstand finish to this year’s Romida Sykes Cup final.
Rain had already interrupted the clash between holders Shepley and Delph & Dobcross twice.
But then constant drizzle, coupled to extremely bad light forced the umpires to abandon the match at 7.30pm with Delph & Dobcross needing 63 runs to win with 9.2 overs left and sevenwickets in hand.
And that means a return tonight at 6.30pm for both teams, when Shepley will probably have the advantage, as not out batsmen Faisal Butt (91) and Kevin Hook (19) will have to go for it from the off.
The fact that Delph are still in with a shout is not only down to Butt, but also to Arron Lilley who really put the Saddleworth side back in the contest with a brilliant half-century from just 36 deliveries as he clubbed four mighty sixes and a four before being undone by a delivery from spinner Greg Wood, just two balls after reaching his 50.
Chasing 276 for victory – which if they succeed will be the highest-ever second innings run chase seen at Honley – Delph were immediately on the back foot when Shepley skipper Danny Glover dismissed Irfan Zahoor in his second over with the score on eight.
Bruce Cruse and Butt then seemed to be treading water (no pun intended) for a number of overs before Cruse was caught on the boundary by Tom Denton for 27.
That sparked the entry of Lilley, and suddenly the contest took off.
Much now rests on the shoulders of Butt, whose unbeaten 91 contained six fours and three sixes.
Danny Glover’s decision to bat first on what looked a cracking wicket certainly paid dividends as Denton and SP Singh embarked on a run spree with a double century stand. The two Shepley openers raced to 50 in the first dozen overs with neither batsman looking in any trouble.
Denton launched Lilley into the neighbouring gardens for a big six as he moved to his half-century in the 23rd over, and two overs later his partner reached his own 50 which was peppered with six fours.
The stand reached 200 in the 39th over and four overs later Denton reached his century off 135 balls with two sixes and seven fours. Singh joined him next over, his ton coming off 112 balls with nine fours.
The partnership was finally ended on 229 when Denton (105) attempted another big hit off part-time bowler Faisal Butt and skied a catch to Kevin Hook with five overs remaining.
Tea was taken early during a rain break before Shepley resumed their innings with Singh carrying his bat for a superb 134 (13 fours) to take the Marsh Lane side to 275-3
